Fired doctors must explain

Durban - Posts for recently fired doctors would be advertised soon and dismissed doctors would be allowed to apply, KwaZulu-Natal health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo said on Tuesday afternoon.

"We will allow them to reapply but they will have to explain thoroughly why they left patients and also sign that they will not do it again."

On Monday more than 200 doctors were served with dismissal letters by the KwaZulu-Natal health department.

They were dismissed after they defied a Durban Labour Court interim interdict compelling health care professionals to return to their posts.

Foreign doctors

Dhlomo said his department would make submissions to national government about the number of doctors it needs from other countries, which had indicated a willingness to provide doctors.

"Other countries have always been willing to assist South Africa with doctors. They have done it before. Such arrangement is done by the national government through its diplomatic relations processes," said Dhlomo.

He was pleased that 700 doctors who had been on strike had returned to work since the department issued an ultimatum last Friday.

Scores of doctors picketed outside Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospital on Tuesday morning. Most of them were those who had been fired.

Doctors went on strike last week to protest against poor pay and working conditions.